NextZen: Zenfolio, completely reimagined.
June 27th, 2025
Photographers in the industry today face a very different landscape than they did even just a few years ago. Technology has rapidly evolved. Workflows have gotten more complex. Client expectations have shifted. The economy has become more volatile and complicated to traverse.
Zenfolio has been part of this industry for over twenty years. We’ve seen how quickly the photography world has changed—from the early days of digital cameras and simple online galleries to today’s always-on, mobile-driven businesses, the pace hasn’t slowed. And through it all, one thing has always been clear: photographers need tools that evolve as quickly as the demands they face. So, rather than continue building and updating the platform we started with, we decided to let go of the blueprints.
We started from scratch.
NextZen is a cutting-edge new platform, purpose-built to meet the needs of modern photography businesses. It’s not a new version of Classic Zenfolio. It’s not Zenfolio 2.0. It’s a completely reimagined system, leveraging decades of experience supporting real photographers at every stage of their creative journey with the most advanced tech.
We understand that running a photography business isn’t one-size-fits-all. This is a platform built for how photographers actually work today, with tools that feel intuitive when you’re in the midst of a chaotic, busy season, and powerful enough to help your business grow, no matter what comes next.
Why We Built NextZen
The photography industry isn’t standing still. It never has. And neither are the people working in it.
Photographers today are trying to balance more than ever: scheduling clients, shooting, editing, fulfilling orders, building a brand, promoting themselves on social media, and somehow making it all seem completely effortless for the people on the other side of the camera. A tried-and-true approach that once worked perfectly doesn’t always withstand the weight of continuously evolving complexities.
For a while, we were able to upgrade and tweak Classic Zenfolio to meet those needs. But we reached a point where we weren’t building new features; we were spending more time trying to find workarounds for outdated ones rather than moving forward. And that just wasn’t good enough. Not for our photographers, and not for what we knew the platform could be; needed to be.
So we decided to build from the ground up.
Not to simply repurpose what was already there, but to create something that could take photographers and all creatives well into the future. And that’s what NextZen is. Our fresh start. A clean slate. A modern platform built expressly for the way photography businesses operate now, and ready for whatever comes next.
We also recognize that today’s photographers are not only artists and entrepreneurs, but they also have obligations outside of their business. In any given moment, your time might be pulled in a dozen different directions—from marketing, networking, client emails, and post-processing, to finding childcare for your kids, supporting aging parents, or simply getting dinner on the table. You need a platform that helps you work smarter, not harder. That means fewer tools poorly cobbled together, fewer browser tabs open, and fewer workflow workarounds. That’s what guided our vision for NextZen.
What Makes NextZen Different
When we say “new platform,” we mean it.
This isn’t a refresh, a redesign, or a facelift. We architected an entirely new experience from the infrastructure that drives it, to the workflows that guide it, to the way it looks and feels when you log in for the first time. And the result is something photographers will notice right away.
It’s faster and more flexible.
Speed isn’t just a nice-to-have. It makes all the difference when you’re uploading large, high-resolution galleries, building a website, or checking the status of a client order between sessions. NextZen runs on a new, technically advanced framework designed for performance and responsiveness, especially on mobile devices, which is where a lot of your business is done now.
Whether you’re reviewing new client bookings on the go or checking out customer feedback in a recent gallery, NextZen’s performance is reliable and fast across any device. You don’t have to wait for images to load. The navigation is smoother. And the overall experience respects the fact that time is one of your most precious resources.
Workflows that just make sense.
One of the biggest shifts is how connected everything is. New galleries connect to a price list without extra steps. Clients can place orders directly from their gallery or your website. When a customer books a new session, a gallery is automatically created, ready for you to upload as soon as post processing is complete. You can offer prints along with a mini session, and when the gallery is ready for viewing, the client sees exactly what they purchased. No confusion of what was already paid for, and no confusion at check-out.
We didn’t just build random features to tick off boxes; we built them to work in harmony, based on how photographers move through their work every day. It’s seamless by design.
Tools that help, not overcomplicate.
A lot of platforms throw together a set of features that sound impressive, but they don’t actually help you work more efficiently. With NextZen, the focus is on useful automation—things like abandoned cart emails, upselling prompts that offer in-cart promotions, and integrated professional labs that ship directly to your clients. It’s the kind of stuff that quietly keeps working for you behind the scenes and makes sure your business is moving, even when you’re on location or off the clock.
No coding required.
Your website should feel unique. It should match your style and brand, and not look like a generic out-of-the-box template. With easy-to-use, customizable design tools, beautiful layout options, and templates optimized for mobile viewing, your online presence can evolve alongside your growing business. You can build a clean, modern website with the simplicity of a drag-and-drop interface. Start with a template, make it your own, and launch it for the world to see without touching a single line of code. It’s quick to get started, but still flexible enough to adapt and reflect your brand as it continues to develop.
Designed Around Real Photographer Workflows
NextZen wasn’t created in a vacuum-sealed environment. It didn’t come from a corporate boardroom brainstorm session that manifested abstract ideas of what photographers might need. It was shaped and inspired by real people— real photographers who have built businesses, missed meals with their family to meet client expectations, and learned the hard way how disjointed, fragmented, and frustrating creative work can feel when your tools don’t support how you work.
We didn’t build NextZen for the photography industry. We are part of it. Many of us have lived the realities of back-to-back sessions, late-night editing marathons, and trying to juggle client needs with family life. We’ve spent years listening closely to what actual working photographers need more of, less of, and what they’re tired of trying to work around.
NextZen was built around those conversations.. Below are some of the most common pain points we heard, and how NextZen is dedicated to solving them:
Turn gallery views into sales.
You’ve delivered the gallery. The images are strong. You’re proud of your work. But then… nothing…crickets. A few downloads here and there, maybe a print order or two, but not what you hoped or expected.
A lot of photographers have been there. We’ve all been there. Clients love their photos, but ordering can feel like an afterthought or one more thing to do on their to-do list. Sometimes they get overwhelmed by options. Sometimes, they just forget to come back after the initial excitement of receiving the gallery.
NextZen helps close the gap between viewing and buying, without making the process feel like an aggressive sales pitch.
The galleries themselves are thoughtfully designed with selling in mind, complete with intuitive features that make the sales experience natural. That includes:
- In-cart promotions encourage clients to add more to their order at a discount while they’re already shopping. Photographers using this feature have seen, on average, a 30% increase in individual order value.
- Automatic shopping cart reminders that gently remind clients to return to their gallery and complete their order with no extra effort on your part.
- Clean, visual product displays that let clients envision exactly how their images will look in prints, wall art, customized greeting cards, or photo gifts.
It’s a feature set that supports you in the background. You don’t have to desperately chase down orders or feel like you’re constantly following up with clients.
Built-in booking and scheduling.
Working with clients to find the perfect date, confirming the details, sending payment requests, sending off reminders…the back-and-forth alone often takes more time than the session itself.
With NextZen, booking is fully integrated.
Clients can view your availability, book a session, choose a print package, and pay right in go. No calendar jockey. No chasing down payments. No trying to coordinate five different steps across five different apps.
Your calendar updates in real time. Payments go directly into your account. You spend less time juggling and more time behind the lens.
Mobile-first, mobile-always.
Most clients will interact with photographers through their phones. Scrolling through galleries, booking a session, and placing orders while on the go. Rarely are people sitting in front of a desktop computer these days. You need a platform that adapts to any device.
NextZen is fully responsive. From the moment a client lands on your site to checking out with their final order, the experience is smooth, user-friendly, and built to showcase your work beautifully on any screen size.
But what does “fully responsive” mean for you? It means that you can review and approve orders on the way to the next session. You can view a set of client favorites from your tablet. It means less time in front of the computer for you, too.
Too many disconnected business tools.
Booking through one system. Payment processing through an app. Galleries on a third platform. Print sales somewhere else. Proofing is done via email or text message with your client. Managing your business just became a full-time job in itself.
NextZen brings it all together.
Your booking system connects directly to your pricing. Galleries tie to custom price lists. Promotions work seamlessly in the background. Everything is designed to work as one cohesive workflow—no more duct-taping together disconnected third-party tools that don’t talk to each other.
You save time. Your business looks more professional. And your client experience becomes more seamless from day one.
Built on 20 Years of Experience
Zenfolio has supported photographers and their businesses for over twenty years. We’ve helped deliver billions of images. We’ve seen trends come and go, we’ve stuck with photographers through all of it, and they’ve stuck with us. That longevity matters; that loyalty matters.
NextZen might be brand new, but it’s grounded in the experience and relationships we’ve built over time. Our team is made up of photographers who also happen to be support specialists, designers, engineers, and marketers, who all care deeply about this work. And we’ve spent the last few years investing in what’s next, because we’re not just thinking about where the photography world is today, we’re thinking about, and building for, where it’s going.
Why Now?
The decision to launch a new platform wasn’t about staying current or keeping up with trends. It was about building something tailored to where the photography industry is headed, and about supporting the photographers who do the hard work to get there.
Classic Zenfolio continues to support thousands of photographers every day. It is a solid, trusted platform, and it has played a big role in helping people grow their businesses, deliver beautiful galleries, and connect with clients. There were many industry-changing firsts with Classic, and we are proud of that.
But we recognized the future of photography required more flexibility and advanced technology that could support the modern workflows of today’s photographers.
NextZen is designed to work the way photographers actually work today. It is fast, scalable, and purpose-built to simplify the day-to-day while leaving room for growth.
We’re proud and grateful for where we’ve been, and we remain genuinely committed to supporting photographers at every stage of their creative journey—running their business on Classic, building their future on NextZen, or considering making a move from another platform.
What’s Next?
We know transitions can be a big step. But we also know photographers are resilient. Whether it’s to client needs, a tough economic climate, or new gear, photographers are always adapting. The company you choose to support your business and the tools you use to do the work you love should be just as adaptable.
NextZen is here to help you achieve your very best work, with less complexity, fewer distractions, and more time to focus on the things that really matter. It’s the product of years of input, development, purposeful innovation, and reflection.
If you’re already a Zenfolio customer, you’ll find a platform that’s ready to meet the demands of today, and we’re committed to supporting you wherever you are… and where you want to go next. If you’re new to Zenfolio, welcome! We’re glad you found us at this moment, because we’ve never been more excited about the future.
Let’s build it together.
